Christmas Snowbird Stocking

If you stopped by today because you know that Wednesdays are my regular posting days, then perhaps I should let you in on a little something you might have missed yesterday...  the release of my Christmas Snowbird applique template  - now available in my Payhip shop!

My original plan was to release a stocking pattern including the applique templates, but since there are already so many great free tutorials out there (like this one), I decided to simply offer the applique templates, and let you come up with your own plan. Yesterday I shared a few inspiration ideas for possible projects, but today I get to share my own finished Christmas Snowbird project...

I think that perhaps free motion swirl quilting is making its way into the "signature style" category with me, but I love the ease of the movement while quilting. I used Auriful 2326 on a dark espresso Essex linen because I love the contrast and that the quilting shows off more than my standard - quilting takes the back burner style.

I've had this Cori Dantini fabric for a while, just waiting for the right project to come along... does that happen to you too? You have a fabric that's been in your stash for a while, and all of a sudden a project that you work on lets you know that there simply IS no other fabric than "this one" for the finish?

I'm really excited to see projects popping up here and there with the Christmas Snowbirds... what does your holiday sewing to-do list look like this season?

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Christmas Snowbird Applique Template

Last week I shared the introduction of my Home Sweet Home applique sampler, and it would appear that this sweet little bird is not only my favorite, but yours as well... so, why make you wait until May, right? You can now find the PDF applique template set in my Payhip shop for this sweet Christmas Snowbird, perched on wintery branches and berries (snowflakes not included). 

The PDF includes both the bird and the branches & berries templates, and I wanted to play around with a few design possibilities using those shapes. The following designs, are ideas and inspiration for projects, but assembly instructions are not included in the template set:

Firstly, I started off with a focal pieced star, flanked by log cabin blocks. I added a simple star applique to connect the branches and berries. (a star applique can easily be found with a simple online search)

Of course, I love how a project can take on a totally different look just by a couple color changes... Christmas hasn't been exclusively red and green for quite some time now, and I love that by adding soft aquas to the mix, give these Winter Snowbirds a much softer feel. (again, simple heart applique shapes can be found with an online search)

I also wanted to experiment with more applique shapes, and decided to try out an applique center instead of the pieced center. Here the leaves from the applique set could be used, and only straight branches and a center circle are needed

  
By bringing the applique birds closer together as the focal point, and adding more applique branches and berries, the shapes take on a wreath like look, framing the sweet, little pair.

I usually work with low volume backgrounds, and find that they often make the other fabrics pop because of the high contrast. These shades of grey give the whole project a very subtle and understated look for Christmas.

... and again in aqua. I really think that some of the non-traditional color schemes could really be used year round.

For a slightly larger project, I decided to play around with combining the applique branches with a simple wedding ring/pickledish block. I love combining traditional piecing and applique. There are so many free online blocks that could be used for this. (this free pattern could be simplified for this layout too)

 
... need a little more inspiration? stay tuned for a little project reveal of my own tomorrow... what will you make with your Christmas Snowbirds set?

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Anna Magazin

At beginning of January of this year, I submitted a couple of Easter projects to the OZ-Verlag magzine, Anna Magazine. To my surprise, I was told that Easter was a long gone theme and that they were currently working on Christmas. I think I was shocked into silence for the first few minutes having just packed my own Christmas decorations away. I obviously knew that magazines have to work ahead, but I never imagined that far ahead. So needless to say, I've been waiting quite a while to share what I've been working on since January. "Weihnachtsfreude", which are five of my projects are featured in the November issue of Anna Magazin:

Anfang Januar dieses Jahres, habe ich ein paar Oster-Projekte an das Anna Magazin vom OZ Verlag eingereicht. Zu meiner Überraschung, wurde mit mitgeteilt, dass das Thema Ostern schon längst vorbei wäre und derzeit an den Winter- / Weihnachtsmodellen gearbeitet würde. Zuerst war ich etwas schockiert,  weil ich meine Weihnachts-Deko ja gerade erst weg gepackt hatte... Mir war zwar bewusst, dass Magazine einen gewissen Vorlauf bei Ihrer Planung benötigen, aber so etwas langfristiges hatte ich mir nicht vorgestellt. Also habe ich mich dann an die Arbeit gemacht und Weihnachtsmodelle mit Stoffen aus einer brandneuen Kollektion entworfen. Verständlicherweise musste ich dann einige Zeit warten, bis ich endlich mit Euch teilen durfte, woran ich im vergangenen Januar gearbeitet habe, aber endlich ist es soweit: "Weihnachtsfreude" ist in der November-Ausgabe des "Anna Magazins" erschienen und beinhaltet fünf meiner eigenen Projekte samt Schnittmustern:

I used Cori Dantini's "Merry Stitches" line from Blend Fabrics, which I just adore (as you might have noticed from my last few posts) What a pretty little stack of fabrics? In addition to sweet little birds and angels, you will find...

Ich habe Cori Dantini's "Merry Stitches" Kollektion von Blend Fabrics verwendet (habt Ihr vielleicht schon hier gesehen). Was für ein wunderschöner Stapel Stoffe? Außer kleiner süßer Vögel und Engel findet Ihr...

... a Christmas wall hanging decor (Freude in German means "joy")

... einen Weihnachtsfreude-Wandschmuck,

...decorative accents for the perfect wintery table setting.

... die perfekten Akzente für eine winterliche Tischdekoration,

... mittens to line the chimney with care.

... Winterfäustlinge als frische Alternative zu den "alten Socken" für den Kamin,

... winter lovebirds snuggled in for the long cold season.

... süße Vögelchen, zusammen gekuschelt für die kalte Saison,

... and all wrapped up to give your special gives that extra touch.
 
... und einzigartige Geschenkanhänger, die Deinen Geschenken das gewisse Extra verleihen.

These and more great holiday crafting ideas can be found in the November issue of Anna Magazine.

Diese und andere tolle Ideen kannst Du in der November Ausgabe des "Anna Magazin" finden.

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The Star of the Show

I love embroidery hoops as an alternative to traditional straight line framing. A round element added to a favorite photo wall is such an unexpected and welcome design feature. Embroidery hoops are fun, but even sometimes a new twist on the trendy craft alternative is a welcome change.

I was so excited when I found these wooden stars... perfect with a little patchwork background, freezer paper applique angel, interfacing, and stapled on the back side with a staple gun (an absolute must in any girl's toolbox!)

Just a simple red version for the smaller star is a great pop of color and perfect for Christmas decorating.

 

Fabrics: Cori Dantini "Merry Stitches", Basic Grey ("Figgy Pudding" and grunge basics), stash fabrics.

Stars: Depot (Germany) 

Freezer Paper

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